NATIVE AMERICAN RESEARCH CENTERS FOR HEALTH
Release Date: August 21, 2000
RFA: GM-00-007
Indian Health Service
(http://www.ihs.gov)
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
(http://www.nigms.nih.gov)
Letter of Intent Receipt Date: October 1, 2000
Application Receipt Date: December 12, 2000
PURPOSE
The Indian Health Service (IHS) and the National Institute of General Medical
Sciences (NIGMS) announce a new initiative to support Native American Research
Centers for Health (NARCH) which will develop opportunities for conducting
research and research training responsive to the needs of Native American
communities. For purposes of this announcement, "American Indian" and "Native
American" refer to American Indian and Alaska Native.
The NARCH initiative will support partnerships of American Indian or Alaska
Native tribes or of tribal-based organizations such as the National Indian
Health Board and Area Health Boards, with institutions that conduct intensive
academic-level biomedical and behavioral research, these partnerships are
called Native American Research Centers for Health. The purposes of the NARCH
initiative are: to encourage competitive research linked to reducing health
disparities, to develop a cadre of American Indian scientists and health
professionals engaged in biomedical, clinical, and behavioral research that is
competitive to NIH funding, and to increase the capacity of both research
intensive institutions and American Indian organizations to work in
partnership to reduce distrust by American Indian communities and people
toward research. These purposes will be achieved by supporting research
projects (including pilot projects), student development projects, and faculty
development projects developed by each NARCH partnership.
HEALTHY PEOPLE 2010
The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health promotion
and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2010," a PHS led national
activity for setting priority areas. This Request for Applications (RFA),
Native American Research Centers for Health, is related to one or more of the
priority areas. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People
2010" at http://www.health.gov/healthypeople/.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
The proposed NARCH must be a working partnership of the American Indian
organization and of the research intensive institution. Applicants eligible
to receive a NARCH award are the Native American organizations of the
partnerships. As the grantee, the Native American organizations will define
criteria and eligibility for participation in all aspects of the partnership,
consistent with this announcement. A minimum of 30% of the grant funds must
remain with that Native American organization, that is, no more than 70% may
be subcontracted to other institutions or organizations.
The American Indian or Alaska Native applicant must be one of the following:
o a federally recognized Indian tribe or tribally sanctioned non-profit
tribal organization, or
o a non-profit national or area Indian health board, or
o a consortium of two or more of those tribes, tribal organizations, or
health boards.
The Research-Intensive Partner must be:
o an accredited public or private nonprofit university or other institution
with an established record of producing research into the health of American
Indians, and that has a demonstrated commitment to the special encouragement
of and assistance to Native American faculty, students, investigators, and
communities for enhancing their capacity to engage in biomedical research.
The proposed NARCH must have a Community and Scientific Advisory Council with
more than 50% of its membership being appointed by the American Indian or
Alaska Native applicant. The NARCH applicants are encouraged to have an
affiliation with a component of the IHS for technical and other in-kind
support, such as linking data from IHS and others to understand better the
health status of the involved tribes or communities. The proposed NARCH may
include additional affiliated organizations, e.g., tribal colleges, additional
colleges or universities, additional tribes, other Indian communities or
organizations, etc.
Principal Investigator
The Principal Investigator, the individual responsible for the administration
(including fiscal management) of the overall project, must have his/her
primary appointment with the American Indian or Alaska Native applicant.
Special arrangements of employment, such as inter-organizational personnel
agreements, are permissible. The Principal Investigator may be, but is not
required to be, the NARCH Program Director or a Research Project Investigator.
NARCH Program Director
The NARCH Program Director is the individual responsible for the day-to-day
leadership and management of the research and training programs within the
proposed NARCH. The Program Director may be, but is not required to be, a
Research Project Investigator.
Research Project Investigators
The NARCH initiative is an institutional developmental grant mechanism that
places an emphasis on continual improvement of the research competitiveness of
the research investigators. In order to be included as a research project
investigator in the proposed NARCH, a prospective investigator: must have a
faculty appointment at the research intensive institution or equivalent
appointment at the American Indian organization or other consortium partner,
and must show that the investigator has the need, based on institutional,
departmental, and professional development plans, to enhance his/her research
knowledge, skills, and capabilities by engaging in the proposed research
program and associated activities.
Student and Faculty Development and Project Participants
Faculty and students may be supported in research education activities that
improve their skills and abilities to be successful at the next stage of their
professional development. To be included for faculty development in the
proposed NARCH, the individual must have a faculty appointment at the research
intensive institution or equivalent appointment at the American Indian
organization or other consortium partner.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to establish eligibility of their proposed
applications prior to submission. Inquiries about eligibility should be sent
to William L. Freeman, M.D., M.P.H. at the address listed under INQUIRIES.
TRIBAL APPROVAL OF THE APPLICATION
It is the policy of the IHS that all research involving American Indian tribes
be approved by the tribal governments with jurisdiction. The following
documentation, therefore, is required to accompany the application.
Either:
Tribal Resolution: If the applicant is a federally recognized Indian tribe, a
resolution of support from the tribal government must accompany the
application submission. Applications that affect more than one Indian tribe
must include resolutions of support from all affected tribes. If the
applicant is an eligible consortium of tribes, a resolution of support from
each tribe of the consortium must be included. If the applicant is a tribally
sanctioned non-profit tribal organization, specific tribal resolution(s) of
support will not be required if the current tribal resolution(s) under which
the organization operates encompasses the proposed application. (A copy of
the current operational resolution(s) must be submitted with the application.)
Draft resolutions that are submitted with the application are acceptable in
lieu of an official resolution. If a current or draft resolution is not
submitted with the application, the application will be considered incomplete
and will be returned without further consideration. (If a draft resolution is
sent, note the approximate date when it will come up for a vote. The official
final signed resolution must be received by the Grants Management Branch, IHS,
no later than April 30, 2001. A grant will not be awarded unless the final
signed resolution is received by this date.)
Or:
Letter of Support: If the applicant is a non-profit national or area Indian
health board, or is an eligible consortium of those Indian health boards, it
is not required to submit a resolution. However, the applicant organization
must submit a letter of support signed by the executive director of each
health board involved, specifically citing the research project proposed.
Each American Indian or Alaska Native organization that derives benefit from
the grant must also submit such a letter.
MECHANISM OF SUPPORT
Awards under this initiative will be administered using the competitive
institutional grant mechanism of the IHS, and will be reviewed using the NIH
S06 mechanism. The responsibility for planning, directing, and executing the
program, as well as data acquisition and analysis and evaluation of the
proposed program, lies solely with the applicant organization. The maximum
grant period may not exceed four years, with the opportunity for competing
renewal at the end of that period.
FUNDS AVAILABLE
The estimated funds (total costs) available for the first year of support for
the entire initiative is expected to be $1.5 million in Fiscal Year 2001. The
actual amount may vary, depending on the response to the RFA and availability
of funds. Three to five awards are anticipated.
An application may request a project period of up to four years and a budget
for direct costs of up to $700,000 in the first year, plus appropriate
facilities and administration (F&A) costs. Because it is anticipated that all
budget requests will exceed $250,000, the modular grant requirements would not
apply to this RFA. A minimum of 30% of the grant funds must remain with the
applicant organization.
BACKGROUND
The American Indian and Alaska Native tribal nations and communities have long
experienced lower health status than other Americans. Although major gains of
reducing health disparities were made in the last half of the twentieth
century, most gains stopped by the mid 1980s (1997 Trends in Indian Health).
A few diseases, e.g., diabetes, got worse. "All Indian" rates contain marked
variation among the "IHS Areas" or regions (Regional Differences in Indian
Health 1998-99), variation by tribe exists within Areas as well. Although the
All Indian mortality rates for all cancers are about 20% lower than the US
rates for all races, there is variation among IHS Areas for specific cancers,
moreover, the favorable American Indian mortality rates for some cancers may
be due to markedly lower incidence rates partly offset by higher case-fatality
rates (NIH Publication 98-4247). The daunting tasks confronting tribes,
researchers, and health care and public health programs in the beginning of
the twenty-first century are to resume the reduction of health disparities
that had occurred up to the 1980s, to reverse the worsening in a few diseases,
to maintain and strengthen the favorable status, and to reduce the disparities
among and within Areas and tribes.
Factors contributing to health disparities are complex, and traditionally have
included race, ethnicity, culture, socioeconomic status, gender/sex, age,
geographical access to care, and levels of insurance. Yet none of these alone
accounts for all of the documented differences. Even socioeconomic status as
a measure of class leaves much of the variability in health status
unexplained. Research on the determinants of health indicates that stress in
family home and work environments, health practices, social support systems,
access to health care, and attitudes toward health are all important
determinants of health status. Discovering the interrelationships among these
variables that affect health and disease, their relationship(s) to more
traditional variables, and, ultimately, the relationship between all of these
factors and the underlying biological and physiological processes involved in
health and disease is critical to understand disease and hence health
disparities, and to suggest ways to prevent and reduce them.
Health disparities of American Indians may also reflect a lack of research
relevant to improve their health status. Many Native Americans distrust
research for historical reasons. One approach that combats this distrust is
community-based participatory research, in which the community"s
responsibility is comparable to that of a co-investigator. This approach is
especially helpful both to design research relevant to health needs of the
community, and to lessen distrust. Low functional health literacy influences
health status among the elderly, the low-income elderly, and individuals of
various racial/ethnic groups, and also may reduce the acceptability of
research among Native Americans.
Lower life expectancy (American Indians born today have a life expectancy 5
years less than non-Indians) and disproportionate disease burden exist also in
part due to (Minority Economic Profiles): less available funding for
IHS-provided health care ($1,650 for American Indians vs. $3,600 general
population per capita), lower access to health professionals (in Indian
Country [which refers to American Indian people on or near reservations],
there are 79 per cent fewer nurses, 60 per cent fewer dentists and 45 per cent
fewer physicians, with high vacancy rates for some disciplines, and with
sub-specialties at only one-third or more of the total full-time-equivalent),
inadequate educational resources, disproportionate poverty (the nation-wide
poverty rate for Native Americans is twice as high as the rest of the
country), discrimination in the delivery of health services, and cultural
differences. These are broad quality of life issues rooted in economic
adversity and poor social conditions.
OBJECTIVES
Due to the complexity of factors contributing to the health disparities of
American Indians compared with other Americans, the collaborative efforts of
the agencies of the Department of Health and Human Services, and the
collaboration of researchers and Native American communities, are needed to
achieve significant improvements in the health status of American Indian
people.
Reduce Health Disparities
In the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, Public Law (P.L.) 94-437, as
amended, IHS was legislatively mandated to improve the delivery of effective
health care to Native Americans. In the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993, NIH
was encouraged to increase the number of underrepresented minorities
participating in biomedical, clinical, and behavioral research, including
studies on drug abuse and alcoholism, and the examination of the role of
resiliency in the prevention and treatment of those conditions. Also, the
"Initiative to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health" by HHS
(http://raceandhealth.hhs.gov) encouraged NIH to help reduce health
disparities. Finally, the "NIGMS Strategic Plan for Reducing Health
Disparities" (http://www.nigms.nih.gov/news/reports/health_disparities.html)
presents an NIGMS role in health disparity reduction through its focussed
programs on research infrastructure to increase the number and capabilities of
underrepresented minority health researchers.
In response to these encouragements, the IHS and NIGMS have established a
collaboration to support Native American Research Centers for Health.
Reducing health disparities among Native American communities and individuals
is fostered by greater understanding of how to enhance their strengths and
resiliencies. While American Indian communities have relied on health
research and medical science to reduce health disparities, they also have
relied on their own psychological, organizational, and cultural, assets and
strengths to survive major harms and disruptions over the centuries, and to
rebound from insults to health. (For research about resiliencies, see
http://www.nida.nih.gov/ResilandRiskWG/ResilandRiskWG.html)
Develop a Cadre of American Indian Scientists and Health Professionals
The NARCH initiative offers opportunities to develop and conduct biomedical,
clinical, and behavioral research that is responsive to the needs of the
Native American community and the goals of this initiative. Faculty and
students at each proposed NARCH will be supported through
investigator-initiated, scientifically meritorious research projects,
including pilot research projects, and through science education projects
designed to increase the numbers of, and to improve the research skills of
investigators involved with Native Americans.
Enhance Partnerships
Recent community-based participatory research suggests that Native American
communities can contribute much of value to partnerships with health
researchers. Fully utilizing all cultural and scientific knowledge,
strengths, and competencies in such partnerships can produce better
understanding of the biological, behavioral, psychological, cultural, social,
and economic factors either promoting or hindering improved health status of
American Indians, and generate the development and evaluation of interventions
to improve their health status.
INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS
It is the policy of the NIH that women and members of minority groups and
their subpopulations must be included in all NIH supported biomedical,
clinical, and behavioral research projects involving human subjects, unless a
clear and compelling rationale and justification is provided that inclusion is
inappropriate with respect to the health of the subjects or the purpose of the
research. This policy results from the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993
(Section 492B of P.L. 103-43). Because the NARCH initiative targets American
Indian and Alaska Native people and communities, a minority population, only
the policy of inclusion of women applies to this RFA.
All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should read the
"NIH Guidelines For Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in Clinical
Research," which have been published in the Federal Register of March 28, 1994
(FR 59 14508-14513) and in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, Vol. 23,
No. 11, March 18, 1994 available on the web at the following URL address:
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not94-100.html.
INCLUSION OF CHILDREN AS PARTICIPANTS IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS
It is the policy of NIH that children (i.e., individuals under the age of 21)
must be included in all human subjects" research, conducted or supported by
the NIH, unless there are scientific and ethical reasons not to include them.
This policy applies to all initial (Type 1) applications submitted for
receipt dates after October 1, 1998.
All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should read the
"NIH Policy and Guidelines on the Inclusion of Children as Participants in
Research Involving Human Subjects" that was published in the NIH Guide for
Grants and Contracts, March 6, 1998, and is available at the following URL
address: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not98-024.html.
Investigators also may obtain copies of these policies from the initiative
staff listed under INQUIRIES. Initiative staff may also provide additional
relevant information concerning the policy.
URLS IN NIH GRANT APPLICATIONS OR APPENDICES
All applications and proposals for NIH funding must be self-contained within
specified page limitations. Unless otherwise specified in an NIH
solicitation, internet addresses (URLs) should not be used to provide
information necessary to the review because reviewers are under no obligation
to view the Internet sites. Reviewers are cautioned that their anonymity may
be compromised when they directly access an Internet site.
LETTER OF INTENT
Prospective applicants are asked to submit a letter of intent that includes
the title of the proposed NARCH, the name, address, and telephone number of
the its Principal Investigator and its Program Director, the identities of the
partners and of key personnel, and the number and title of this RFA. Although
a letter of intent is not required, is not binding, and does not enter into
the review of a subsequent application, the information that it contains
allows the IHS and NIH Center for Scientific Review (CSR) staffs to estimate
the potential review workload and avoid conflict of interest in the review.
The letter of intent is to be sent to the initiative staff listed under
INQUIRIES by the letter of intent receipt date listed in the heading of this
RFA.
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
Applications are to be submitted using the grant application form PHS 398
(rev.4/98). Applicants are strongly urged to contact NARCH initiative staff
at an early stage to request the specific supplemental instructions for Form
PHS 398. Application kits and supplemental instructions may be obtained from
the initiative contacts listed under INQUIRIES. Application kits are also
available at most institutions that conduct NIH sponsored research, such as
the research intensive institution, and may also be obtained from the Division
of Extramural Outreach and Information Resources, National Institutes of
Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7910, Bethesda, MD 20892-7910, telephone
(301) 710-0267, Email: GrantsInfo@nih.gov. The application is also available
at https://grants.nih.gov/grants/forms.htm.
The sample RFA label available at:
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/label-bk.pdf has been modified to
allow for this change. Please note this is in pdf format.
Submit a signed, typewritten original of the application, including the
Checklist, and one (1) single-sided photocopy of the entire signed application
(including Appendices and supporting documents) in one package to:
Grants Management Branch
Indian Health Service
Twinbrook Metro Plaza, Suite 100
12300 Twinbrook Parkway
Rockville, MD 20852-1750
Telephone: (301) 443-5204
(for express or courier service, the Zipcode is unchanged).
At the time of submission, four (4) additional single-sided photocopies of the
complete signed original application, including the Checklist, Appendices, and
supporting documentation, must also be sent to:
Center for Scientific Review
National Institutes of Health
6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 2030 - MSC 7720
Bethesda, MD 20892-7720
Telephone: (301) 435-0715
or Bethesda, MD 20817 (for express or courier service).
Applications must be received by the application receipt date listed in the
heading of this RFA. If an application is received after that date, it will
be returned to the applicant without review.
APPLICATION CONTENT
The purposes of the NARCH initiative are: to encourage competitive research
linked to reducing health disparities, to develop a cadre of American Indian
scientists and health professionals engaged in biomedical, clinical, and
behavioral research that is competitive to NIH funding, and to increase the
capacity of both research intensive institutions and American Indian
organizations to work in partnership to reduce distrust by American Indian
communities and people toward research.
A proposed NARCH, therefore, may include any or all of the following:
research projects (including pilot projects), student development projects, or
faculty development projects. In general, a description should be provided of
the current state of the research and research training enterprise at the
proposed NARCH and its institutional and community partners, including faculty
and student profiles. A clear statement of the overall goals, specific
measurable objectives, and anticipated milestones should be presented, these
elements should be presented in the context of needed improvements in the
partners" organizational infrastructure and environment for research.
The NARCH application should document that the research intensive partner is
an institution with an established record of producing research into the
health of American Indians, and that has a demonstrated commitment to the
special encouragement of, and assistance to, Native American faculty,
students, investigators, and communities for enhancing their capacity to
engage in biomedical research. The application should also document the
nature of the partnership itself, such as: the process to develop the
application and proposed NARCH itself, and the past and future efforts to
increase the capacity of the partners, to improve their partnership, and to
contribute to the success of the NARCH.
IHS and NIGMS recognize that tribes, tribal-based organizations, and research
intensive institutions are diverse in their mission, their health and economic
statuses, and their cultures. Therefore, the NARCH application should assess
the benefits of its activities on specific, measurable outcomes identified in
the application. It is expected that each proposed NARCH will implement
various strategies for determining the initial and ongoing success of their
efforts for organizational development. Such strategies might include a
self-study by the proposed NARCH and its partners, which focuses on
fact-finding, program evaluation, and recommendations for improvement in key
areas. Guidance and suggestions for such program evaluation of a proposed
NARCH can be obtained from http://www.faseb.org/aps/educatn/promote/evaltips.html.
Research Projects
NARCH applications may include a maximum of five (5) research projects and a
maximum of five (5) pilot research projects. Unlike regular research
projects, a pilot research project is limited in scope and is not expected to
have preliminary data. It is also limited to a budget of less than $35,000
per year for three years. The pilot research project is intended for faculty
without current research support. Support for faculty participating in pilot
research projects is preparatory to seeking more substantial funding from NIH
research grant programs (e.g., Academic Research Enhancement Award [AREA], K,
and R01 awards), as well as funding from other agencies and private sources.
Funds received from the proposed NARCH to support pilot research projects may
not be used to supplement ongoing research projects. A NARCH application need
not include both research projects and pilot research projects. Applications
for only pilot research projects or for only research projects may be
submitted. Individual project investigators may propose either a research
project or a pilot research project, but not both. In addition, the NARCH
application must show that each participating investigator has the need, based
on institutional, departmental, and professional development plans to develop
or enhance his/her research knowledge, skills, and capabilities by engaging in
the proposed research program and associated activities.
Research projects (including pilot research projects) proposed under this
initiative must be in research areas normally funded by any of the National
Institutes of Health. Research projects addressing health disparities are
especially encouraged.
A listing of grants recently funded by NIH may be found at CRISP (Computer
Retrieval of Information on Scientific Projects), a searchable database of
federally funded biomedical research projects conducted at universities,
hospitals, and other research institutions. It may be accessed at
http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/.
Each research project or pilot research project should follow the instructions
provided in PHS 398 (Rev. 4/98) for preparing research grant applications.
The application must clearly describe how the proposed research plan will meet
both the individual"s professional development goals, and the three purposes
of the NARCH initiative: to reduce health disparities, to develop a cadre of
American Indian scientists and health professionals, and to enhance the
partnership of the proposed NARCH. The professional development goals must
clearly describe specific objectives and milestones. The goals should
include, but are not limited to, improving competitiveness in winning grant
support, and should describe how successful completion of the proposed
research project will improve research skills, thus contributing to the
overall goals and specific measurable objectives of the proposed NARCH.
Each research project or pilot research project must follow the IHS policy
concerning tribal approval, that all research involving American Indian tribes
be approved by the tribal governments with jurisdiction. That is, each
project that involves people or community[ies] of an American Indian or Alaska
Native tribe, or an eligible non-profit organization, must include a
resolution of approval from the tribal government[s], or (if applicable) a
letter of support signed by the director of the eligible Native American
organization, or both (if applicable).
Student Development Projects
If student development projects are proposed, the NARCH application should
describe new programs, modifications, or additions to existing programs of the
partners, that encourage and facilitate American Indian students to enter,
advance, and remain in research careers. Such projects might include, but are
not limited to, providing employment as research assistants in research
projects of research active mentors, providing workshops to improve technical
or communication skills, providing motivating seminars or journal clubs
highlighting problems of interest to students, providing contact with role
models, and providing opportunities to travel to present results at national
scientific meetings. If research apprenticeships are proposed, the
application should clearly document the experience, proposed commitment, and
quality of the mentors in providing guidance and advice to students (including
responsible conduct of research and research integrity, teaching, and
protection of human subjects), and in fostering the development of academic
and community-based American Indian researchers. The application must have an
evaluation plan for the project(s) that indicates the anticipated outcomes
relative to the current baseline data. For example, one outcome might be the
improved retention of students in science majors. The application should
indicate the anticipated (quantitative) improvement relative to the current
retention rate.
The application must clearly describe how the development plans for students
will meet both the individual"s professional development goals, and one
purpose of the NARCH initiative: to develop a cadre of American Indian
scientists and health professionals.
Faculty Development Projects
If faculty development projects are proposed, the NARCH application should
describe the need, proposed activity, and anticipated outcomes. Faculty
development projects might include, but are not limited to, short-term
mentored research experiences in the lab of an active NIH-funded researcher,
attendance at workshops or courses or national meetings needed for acquiring
specific skills or methodologies needed for prospective research. As with
student development projects, the quality of the proposed interactions must be
documented and the application must have an evaluation plan for the project.
Release time for preparing proposals or mini-research projects, not reviewed
as pilot projects, is not allowed.
The application must clearly describe how the development plans for faculty
will meet both the individual"s professional development goals, and two
purposes of the NARCH initiative: to develop a cadre of American Indian
scientists and health professionals, and to enhance the partnership of the
proposed NARCH.
ALLOWABLE COSTS
Administrative Costs
Certain administrative costs for managing a comprehensive program are
allowable and may vary, depending upon the size and complexity of the
program"s activities. The costs budgeted for NARCH grants and subcontracts
may not duplicate items already budgeted in other cost centers of the Native
American, research intensive, and subcontracted organizations and
institutions, such as accounts which make up the Facilities and Administration
(F&A) cost pool. The grantee organization receiving the award must be
prepared to provide documentation showing the direct relationship of proposed
costs to the program and that costs of this type are charged in a uniform
manner to all other grants at all institutions and organizations participating
in the award.
Salary (up to 25 percent, although it should generally be less) for the NARCH
Program Director is allowable for that portion of time or effort specifically
employed in directing the proposed NARCH. (The 25% limit does not include
salary for being a research investigator.) Limited salary support for
secretarial or clerical help is allowable only when in direct support of the
proposed NARCH. For guidance, applicants should refer to the OMB Circular
appropriate for them, A-87 (Cost Principles for State, Local, and Indian
Tribal Governments, http://www.whitehouse.gov/OMB/circulars/a087/a087-all.html)
or A-122 (Cost Principles for Non-Profit Organizations,
http://www.whitehouse.gov/OMB/circulars/a122/a122.html), or should contact the
grants management officer under INQUIRIES.
Costs for evaluation activities are allowable, as are costs for the Community
and Scientific Advisory Council. All applications must include costs
associated with one annual meeting per year in Rockville, MD, of NARCH
directors and their key scientific personnel.
Research Project Costs
Direct costs associated with research and pilot research projects are
allowable when adequate justification is provided. These include faculty
salaries, reimbursed according to percent effort. Summer salary support can
be paid provided the institution"s academic schedule permits such release and
when the institution approves. The maximum summer-salary support provided by
the program can not exceed the equivalent of two months at 100 percent effort,
or time specified by the institution as its policy. Grant funds may not be
used to increase or supplement faculty academic year salaries. Salary support
for technical assistance and costs for consultants, if justified, are
allowable. Costs for equipment to be used to carry out the proposed research
are allowable. Costs for multi-user research equipment is allowable. A plan
for access to the multi-user equipment, its maintenance, management and use
must be included. To aid in the review, it is suggested that a tabular
summary show the estimated or actual proportional use of this equipment by
each project, and other investigators and students. Justify this core
component by discussing ways in which these centralized services improve
quality, bring about an economy of effort, and/or save overall costs as
compared to their inclusion as part of each research project. Plans to
maintain the core facility beyond the grant period should be discussed.
Personnel costs to maintain and service the equipment are an allowable cost.
Support for very large pieces of equipment, however, may be restricted by the
NARCH budget.
Costs for supplies, including costs for animals, necessary to carry out the
proposed research may be included. Travel costs for the investigator(s) are
permitted when direct benefits to the program are expected, and when adequate
justification is provided. Alterations and Renovations costs (up to $40,000)
are allowable only when essential for conduct of the proposed research. Other
permitted costs include animal maintenance (unit care costs and number of care
days), donor fees, publication costs, computer charges, rentals and leases,
equipment maintenance, and service contracts.
Also allowable, when fully justified, are consortium arrangements that may
involve personnel costs, supplies, and other allowable costs, including F&A
costs. Contractual costs for support services, such as the laboratory testing
of biological materials, clinical services, or data processing, are allowable
expenses.
The intent of pilot research projects is to lead to regular research projects
funded as part of the center grant or as freestanding grants. For pilot
research projects, applications may request support for up to $35,000 (direct
costs) per year for a period of three years, which may be spread over four
years. This support is non-renewable.
Student Development Costs
Student (graduate, undergraduate, and high school) remuneration through
salary/wages for participation in research experiences may be requested,
provided all the following conditions are met.
o The student is performing necessary work.
o There is employer-employee relationship between the student and the
proposed NARCH or its partners.
o The total compensation is reasonable for the work performed.
o It is the practice of the proposed NARCH or its partners to provide
compensation for all students in similar circumstances, regardless of the
source of support for the activity.
Graduate students are allowed tuition costs as part of a compensation package.
When requesting support for a graduate student, the NARCH application should
provide, in the budget justification section of the application, the basis for
the compensation level. The IHS staff will review the requested compensation
level and, if it is reasonable and justified, will provide compensation up to
a maximum of $26,000
(https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not98-168.html).
Clinical post-doctoral students should be compensated at a rate
commensurate with that of other post-doctoral employees at the research
intensive institution.
It is the expectation of the IHS and NIGMS that students who are enrolled in a
Ph.D. program, as part of a proposed NARCH, will not be excluded from support
from other non-federal or federal graduate training sources (such as loans and
assistance under the Veterans" Adjustment Benefit Act or Pell Grants) for
which they are eligible. Graduate and post-doctoral students cannot
concurrently hold another federally-sponsored stipend or fellowship or any
other federal award that duplicates the NARCH support.
Faculty Development Costs
Costs to support various activities such as workshops or courses or national
meetings needed for acquiring specific skills or methodologies needed for
prospective research are allowable. Such costs might include tuition, travel
and per diem costs, as well as salary support appropriate to the percent
effort needed for the activity. Also, allowable are costs such as travel and
per diem associated with short-term research experiences in the laboratory of
an active extramurally-funded researcher.
Subcontracts
The grant recipient may issue subcontracts to other organizations (such as the
research intensive institution of the partnership), as long as at least 30% of
the grant remains with the Native American organization, that is, no more than
70% may be subcontracted.
Unallowable Costs
Unallowable costs for research projects (including for pilots projects)
include costs for student development, textbooks, journals, memberships, and
Internet subscription costs, as well as other costs prohibited by OMB
Circulars A-87 or A-122 as applicable. Employees of the applicant
organization may not serve as paid consultants.
The pilot research project is intended for faculty without current research
support. Therefore, investigators with significant current support from other
mechanisms such as the R01 and research funding from other extramural sources,
are not eligible and the costs therefore are not allowable.
Undergraduate tuition, housing, food, or recruitment expenses of any kind are
not allowable under the NARCH initiative. Support for textbooks, incentives,
memberships, and Internet subscriptions are not allowable.
QUALIFICATIONS OF THE NARCH PROGRAM DIRECTOR AND KEY PERSONNEL
As leader of the research and research training for the proposed NARCH, the
NARCH Program Director is expected to possess certain essential
qualifications. One is strong leadership skills, including scientific
leadership experience and a strong academic and scientific background, as
exemplified, ideally, by scientific publications and a record of peer-reviewed
scientific support. Another is the knowledge of and personal working
relationship with the Native American tribes or communities involved in the
NARCH research, and with the partners of the proposed NARCH. Another is
strong mentoring and supervision skills, to exercise responsibility for
mentoring activities, organization of communicating skills programs, special
methods workshops, tracking of student career plans, etc. In addition, the
NARCH Program Director should have knowledge of IHS and NIH policies,
including those concerning human participants in research, human biological
material, animals, hazardous materials, and tribal review and approval of
research.
The names and qualifications of the NARCH Program Director, the directors of
individual projects within the program (where appropriate), and any other key
personnel, shall be listed in the application under Key Personnel, and their
Biographical Sketches including other support should be included.
REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS
Upon receipt, IHS and NIH staff will administratively review applications for
completeness and responsiveness. Applications that are incomplete,
non-responsive to this RFA, or do not follow the guidelines of the PHS form
398 (Rev 4/98) or of supplemental instructions, will be returned to the
applicant without further consideration.
Applications will be evaluated in accordance with the criteria stated below
for scientific and technical merit by appropriate peer review groups convened
by the CSR. The National Advisory General Medical Sciences Council will
provide the second level of review.
Overall Review of the NARCH
In reviewing the overall program, the initial scientific review group will
examine evidence of the partners" commitment to the purposes of the NARCH
initiative: to encourage competitive research linked to reducing health
disparities, to develop a cadre of American Indian scientists and health
professionals engaged in biomedical, clinical, and behavioral research that is
competitive to NIH funding, and to increase the capacity of both research
intensive institutions and American Indian organizations to work in
partnership to reduce distrust by American Indian communities and people
toward research. The evidence will include:
o the quality of the partnership of the institutional and community
partners, and the quality of the involvement of the Community and Scientific
Advisory Council, as demonstrated by documentation of (for instance): the
intellectual and tangible contributions and activities of the partners, and of
the Council, in developing the application and the proposed NARCH, the
interactions of the partners, and of the members of the Council, in meetings
(such as those to develop the application and proposed NARCH), the past
activities and future plans to increase the capacity of the partners and of
the Council, the plans for future contributions and activities by the
partners, and by the Council, in furthering the goals of the proposed NARCH,
and the plans for future development of the partnership itself,
o the experience and commitment of the institutional and community partners
to recruit, retain, and advance Native American faculty and students, to
support faculty and student research efforts, and to increase the role of the
involved American Indian communities in the plans of the proposed NARCH,
o the appropriateness of the plan for evaluating the impact of the proposed
NARCH, including the quality of baseline data and milestones for
accomplishments, and a system to track the future course of program
participants, and
o the potential of the proposed NARCH to be a regional and national
resource, including: capacity to provide quality research training and
mentoring for integrated promotion and development of American Indian research
careers from undergraduate (or if well justified, high school) through
post-doctoral levels, attainment of quality research to reduce health
disparities, plans for research information dissemination and education
activities, and plans for the development of research networks to support the
scientific aims of the proposed NARCH.
Review of Student and Faculty Development Plans
The anticipated effectiveness of the proposed NARCH in making a difference
relative to the current base line data (based in part on previous experience
of the partners) will be assessed. Factors to be considered include:
o the appropriateness of the content, phasing, quality, and duration of the
student or faculty development plans in the NARCH application to achieve the
scientific development of the faculty, post-doctoral, pre-doctoral,
undergraduate, and (if well justified) high school students,
o the experience, proposed commitment, and quality of the mentors of the
partners in providing guidance and advice to candidates (including responsible
conduct of research and research integrity, teaching, and protection of human
subjects), and in fostering the development of academic and community-based
American Indian researchers.
Review of Research Projects
The NIH has announced procedures to be used for the review of research grant
applications (NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 22, June 27, 1997 or see
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not97-010.html). For NARCH
applications, the five criteria listed in this announcement will be used for
the scientific review of research projects and pilot research projects. The
review of research projects and pilot research projects will be the same
except that applications for pilot studies may be smaller in scope and would
not be expected to have preliminary data.
The purposes of the NARCH initiative are: to encourage competitive research
that addressed health disparities in the American Indian populations, to
develop a cadre of American Indian scientists and health professionals engaged
in biomedical and behavioral research, and to increase the formation of
partnerships between American Indian and research intensive institutions. In
the written comments reviewers will be asked to discuss the following aspects
of the application in order to judge the likelihood that the proposed research
will have a substantial impact on the pursuit of these purposes. Each of
these criteria will be addressed and considered in assigning the overall
score, weighting them as appropriate for each application.
(1) Significance: Does this study address an important problem? If the aims
of the application are achieved, how will scientific knowledge be advanced?
What will be the effect of these studies on the concepts or methods that drive
this field?
(2) Approach: Are the conceptual framework, design, methods, and analyses
adequately developed, well-integrated, and appropriate to the aims of the
project? Does the application acknowledge potential problem areas and
consider alternative tactics?
(3) Innovation: Does the project employ novel concepts, approaches, or
methods? Are the aims original and innovative? Does the project challenge
existing paradigms or develop new methodologies or technologies?
(4) Investigator: Is the investigator appropriately trained and well suited
to carry out this work? Is the work proposed appropriate to the experience
level of the principal investigator and other researchers (if any)?
(5) Environment: Does the scientific environment in which the work will be
done contribute to the probability of success? Do the proposed experiments
take advantage of unique features of the scientific environment or employ
useful collaborative arrangements? Is there evidence of institutional
support?
In addition to the above criteria, in accordance with NIH policy, all
applications will also be reviewed with respect to the following:
o The adequacy of plans, if research on human subjects is involved, to
include both genders and children as appropriate for the scientific goals of
the research. Plans for the recruitment and retention of subjects will also
be evaluated.
o The reasonableness of the proposed budget and duration in relation to the
proposed research.
o The adequacy of the proposed protection for humans, animals or the
environment, to the extent they may be adversely affected by the project
proposed in the application.
? The adequacy of the proposed plan to share data, if appropriate.
Schedule
Letter of Intent Receipt Date: October 1, 2000
Application Receipt Date: December 12, 2000
Peer Review Date: February/March 2001
Council Review: May 2001
Earliest Anticipated Start Date: July 1, 2001
AWARD CRITERIA
Priorities for funding will be based on the scientific and technical merit of
the application, the assessed potential of investigators in the developmental
stages of their careers, and the likelihood that the proposed NARCH can
further the purposes of the NARCH initiative. Awards will be made only to
organizations with financial management systems and management capabilities
that are acceptable under PHS policy. Awards will be administered under the
PHS Grants Policy Statement.
INQUIRIES
Written and telephone inquiries are encouraged. The opportunity to clarify
any issues or questions from potential applicants is welcome.
Questions on the initiative, especially regarding IHS issues and policies, may
be directed to:
William L. Freeman, M.D., M.P.H.
Research Program, Indian Health Service
Twinbrook Metro Plaza, Suite 450
12300 Twinbrook Parkway
Rockville, MD 20852-1750
Telephone: (301) 443-0578
FAX: (301) 443-1522
Email: WFreeman@HQE.ihs.gov
Questions on the initiative, especially regarding NIGMS issues and policies,
may be directed to:
Clifton A. Poodry, Ph.D.
Minority Opportunities in Research Division
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
45 Center Drive, Suite 2AS.37, MSC 6200
Bethesda, MD 20892-6200
Telephone: (301) 594-3900
FAX: (301) 480-2753
Email: poodryc@nigms.nih.gov
Questions on the review of applications may be directed to:
Michael R. Martin, Ph.D.
Director, Division of Physiological Systems
Center for Scientific Review
MSC 7892
Room 6160
6701 Rockledge Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892-7892
Telephone: (301) 594-7945
FAX: (301) 480-2065
Email: mm72k@nih.gov
Questions on grants management and fiscal matters may be directed to:
Patricia Spotted Horse
Grants Management Branch
Indian Health Service
Twinbrook Metro Plaza, Suite 100
12300 Twinbrook Parkway
Rockville, MD 20852-1750
Telephone: (301) 443-5204
FAX: (301) 443-9602
Email: PSpotted@HQE.ihs.gov
AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS
This initiative is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
Nos. 93.933 and 93-375. Sections 301(a) and 405 of the Public Health Service
Act, as amended authorize these awards, and these are administered under PHS
grants policies and Federal Regulations 42 CFR part 52c, 45 CFR part 74, and
45 CFR part 92. See also Senate Appropriations Committee Report, No. 92-316,
July 29, 1971, Executive Order 12900 , Educational Excellence for Hispanic
Americans February 22, 1994, Executive Order 12876, Historically Black
Colleges and Universities, November 1, 1993, and Executive Order 13021,
October 21, 1996, and Outline of Work Plan, August 18, 1998, White House
Initiative on Tribal Colleges and Universities. Applications are not subject
to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or
Health Systems Agency review.
The PHS strongly encourages all grant and contract recipients to provide a
smoke-free workplace and promote the non-use of all tobacco products. In
addition, P.L. 103-227, the Pro-Children Act of 1994, prohibits smoking in
certain facilities (or in some cases, any portion of a facility) in which
regular or routine education, library, day care, health care or early
childhood development services are provided to children. This is consistent
with the PHS mission to protect and advance the physical and mental health of
the American people.
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Americans: An Illustrated History. Turner Publishing, Inc. Atlanta, GA,
1993.
Gazmararian, J.A., Baker, D.W., Williams, M.V., Parker, R.M., Scott, T.L.,
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